What does 'brut' indicate about a sparkling wine?

The term 'brut' on a sparkling wine label indicates that the wine has a low level of sweetness. Essentially, 'brut' describes a style of sparkling wine that is dry, meaning it contains very little residual sugar, typically less than 12 grams per liter. This dryness is often preferred in sparkling wines, as it allows the natural acidity and fruit characteristics of the grapes to shine through.

Other options like designating a wine as a dessert wine or indicating high alcohol content do not accurately describe the nature of brut sparkling wines. Furthermore, while vintage-dating is an important aspect of some sparkling wines, it is not inherently linked to the sweetness level indicated by 'brut.' Thus, the correct association with 'brut' is its indication of minimal sweetness.